"... Asked if it would be embarrassing to have another male leader, Miss Phillips told Sky News’ Ridge on Sunday: “I think it will be embarrassing and what’s more, it gives absolute *grist to the mill* and ammunition to our other side."soheil_hooshdaran wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2020 7:51 pmMany thanks. But still confused
As I understood, the phrase can mean excuse, right?
Also, it can mean anything can be made useful.
Does it mean in my case that "anything is good"?
Context:
"Rxd7
Grist for the mill! Now c6 falls and I get all of my material back - with dividents!"
NB: Miss Phillips is standing in the leadership election to decide the replacement leader of the (British?) Labour Party. (They're having a Great British Political Bake Off.)
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jess-phillips ... 00701.html
Therefore ammunition (bullets, shells, etc.) is "grist to the mill" (absolutely necessary and fit for purpose) for guns.
Guns are almost useless for war, policing, etc. without ammunition.
Just as (wind)mills are almost useless without corn (grist) to grind into flour (to make bread, cakes, etc.)
So, 'grist' (corn) is absolutely necessary and fit for purpose for use in a mill.
It's that just right thing for something else to be able to do whatever it was made to do.
Do you get it now?
NB: Early in this thread a pun was made on the name of one of the ECF graders - Mr. H. Grist. (Please do not be confused if you find mention of Homepride flour graders on the Internet for they are just little cartoon characters in bowler hats- unlike the ECF graders who are men of substance, integrity & often wear many different hats.)